Lurking germs in the kitchen

What part of the kitchen is likely hiding dangerous microbes such as E. coli and salmonella? Buttons on the microwave or rubber blender? Take your time to answer. A new report reveals that others believe and others apply.

U.S. researchers took dozens of samples from the kitchens of 20 homes in Detroit and Ann Arbor, in Michigan, also asking their tenants to tell them which area in the kitchen thought that is what attracts most germs and that we would have to clean more regularly than I do.

The volunteers felt that the buttons on the microwave oven must be the nastiest of all. They were wrong. The researchers found that much higher microbial load had outputs for water and ice for the refrigerator, the tires at the base of blender that prevent leakage of contents stirred, drawers for meat and fruits / vegetables for refrigerators.

Specifically, the outputs of water and ice in refrigerators in several cases had mold developed because of the persistently wet conditions. The drawers fruit / vegetable of the coolers were found to be contaminated with salmonella and listeria, while tires blenders often had mold, salmonella and e.coli.

High microbial load were also pockets for knives, can openers and spatulas from flexible materials.
These findings suggest that many of those who try to have clean their kitchen overlook some of the most problematic areas, told the newspaper «New York Times» Ms. Lisa collar, microbiologist in nonprofit NSF International, on whose behalf polled.

As explained, consumers rarely wash their tires on kitchen appliances - eg wash the container of a blender or the lid of the pressure cooker without removing the hose to wash it separately. Many simply rinse the spatula, they consist of two parts, not separate it to be washed well and both, while most will rarely think he wants careful cleaning the output of water and ice in the fridge.

In a similar way, most do not wash once a week drawers or containers of the refrigerator and the freezer, or lathering openers hand - at best simply rinse and electric openers do not pass even with a damp cloth.

• Food Poisoning

The aim of my research at the Lady collar, is not to scare people, but to focus attention on some kitchen surfaces which may be food poisoning outbreak.

The food poisoning is very common, especially during the summer months because the heat and humidity favor the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and fungi. In the U.S., for example, which keeps detailed health records are recorded annually 10 million cases of food poisoning - a fifth of them are due to food cooked and consumed by patients at home, according to data from the Center for Control and Prevention Disease (CDC) in the country.

More than half of household outbreaks of food poisoning due to consumption of contaminated vegetables and other plant trofimon.Epipleon than patients who eventually died because of poisoning, one in three had consumed contaminated poultry.
Most healthy adults can tolerate a food poisoning, but the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems or general organization are more likely to develop dangerous complications.

• What to do

"When you buy a device or container for the kitchen, you must read the instructions carefully and follow exactly what to recommend how to clean," said Ms collar.
"Still, though, if you do not write any when and how to wash the pan or appliance with soap and water, we must keep in mind that every part of it can be contaminated by food and / or create the conditions for growth of bacteria and fungi. "

He continued: "Although we all expect that it will be messy drawer for meat in the refrigerator, most do not even think that may be contaminated drawer for fruits and vegetables. Nor crosses your mind that from a certain point, it is possible with water or ice cubes from the refrigerator, drinking and fungi. And this is true for bottles of water and refrigerate who want frequent washing. "

This is not the first time that scientists are finding that our kitchens are ... kingdoms microbes. Earlier studies have shown that sponge kitchen contains more germs than you ... the toilet bowl.
Is equally contaminated and wood cutting food, according to the Council of Hygiene of Britain, which is changing pad in the kitchen once a month and the wood every three years. Is still necessary to have another cutting board for meat, another for vegetables and another for bread.

Source: NEWS